Safety device for elevator-doors.



H. A. MGGRORY.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATDR DOORS.

APPLIUATION FILED 141111.22, 1909. RENEWED APR. 19, 1911. 1,007,475.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPH c0 WASHINGTON, n. c.

H. MQGRORY. SAFETY DEVICE FOR. ELEVATOR DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22,-1909. RENEWED APR. 19, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fltbuwq Patented 001;. 31, 1911.

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HENRY A. MCG'ROBY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR-DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application filed March' 22, 1909, Serial No. 484,861. Renewed April 19, 1911. Serial No. 622,132.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. MoGEoRY, citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of WVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety Devices for Elevator- Doors, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in safety devices for elevator doors and has for one of its objects means whereby the elevator cannot be started when one of the elevator doors is open.

Another object is to prevent the doors of the elevator being opened while the car is moving from floor to floor.

A further object is to provide means whereby upon opening one door no other door can be opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the elevator cannot be started until the door is properly closed and locked against opening from the outside.

Another object is to provide means for quickly lining up and supporting the vertical shaft controlling the starting mechanism in installing the apparatus.

Other advantages and improvements will hereafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification: Figure 1 'is a vertical central section through the elevator well and car, showing the floor door at which the car is stopped partially opened. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View of a fragment of the vertical shaft controlling the starting mechanism with one of the door pinions mounted thereon, and the inclosing tube secured to one of the hangers for supporting the shaft. Fig. 3 is a similar view disclosing the manner of connecting together the several sections comprising the vertical shaft, and the method of hanging and supporting the same by means of the C-shaped hangers. Fig. A is a detail cross-sectional view of the vertical shaft disclosing the means employed for insuring the rotation of said shaft to the limit of its movement in either direction. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the means employed to lock and release the elevator door; also indicating in dotted lines one of the operating pinions mounted on the vertical shaft in turn actuated by said door controlling mechanism. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a detail of the rack and manually operated pinion for actuating the controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail cross-sectional view through the rotating electrical switch mounted on the vertical shaft governing the operation of the starting mechanism or winding mechanism (not shown). Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring now to the letters of reference spread upon the drawings: A denotes the elevator well, B the elevator car, and C, C, G etc., the several floors.

D indicates the vertical shaft made up of convenient lengths to extend from the controlling means in the basement to the top of the elevator well.

D is an inclosing sleeve or tube supported in the ends of the C-shaped hangers E, and preferably engaged thereto by threading the ends of the tube.

Mounted on the shaft D within the arms of the hanger E is a bushing forming onehalf of a ball race E ;the other half of the ball race being formed in the hanger E. E are the balls mounted therein which are admitted through an aperture in the hanger closed by the screws E F are pinions mounted on the vertical shaft D and secured thereto. As shown in Fig. 3, the hubs of the pinions may be lengthened to serve in joining the abutting lengths of the shaft D. The hub of the pinion F is provided with a slot f within which the ends of a dowel pin 03 or feather, projecting through the shaft D, is lodged. The lower portion of the hub of the pinion F is secured to the shaft by a pin d and is formed with a ball race f. The casting or hanger E has a similar race, between which and the race f the balls d are housed. It will thus be seen that the several sections of the shaft D are each supported from above, as indicated in Fig. 3. Any required number of intermediate hangers may be provided as required, and it will be readily understood that the tubing or inclosing sleeve D to which the hangers are secured will greatly simplify the labor of lining up the shaft.

The upper end of the shaft D at the top of the well passes through a foot plate E which serves also as one portion of a ball race. E is a cap having a screw-threaded connection with the shaft, its under face forming the other half of the ball race. E are the balls lodged within, 1& is a nut threaded upon the end of the shaft and by adjusting the cap E and the nut E the shaft may be raised or lowered slightly as required.

Mounted upon each of the elevator doors is a frame G slotted at g for thepassage of the bolts engaged to the door of the inclosure surrounding the elevator well. Mounted upon the frame G is a reciprocating bar H inclosed within a tube H and traveling in suitable bearings. At the lower end of the bar H is formed a rack H which meshes with the pinion I manually operated by the knob or handle I,the end of the rack bar H and the pinion I being inclosed within a guard case I to protect the operators fingers. The upper end of the reciprocating bar H is formed with a hookedshaped portion H Secured to the elevator well and in line with the horizontal travel of the hooked portion H when the bar is in its lowermost position, is a shortratchet bar or series of two or more inclined or wedge-shaped blocks J,the arrangement andlocat-ion being such that upon actuating the bar H its hooked portion H may be raised above the hori- Zontal plane of the inclined blocks J, thereby permitting the door to be opened. \Vhen in its initial position, as will be readily understood, the blocks or ratchet bar J being in line with the direction of the travel of the hooked portion H serve to secure the door against being opened from the outside.

G is a portion of the frame G bent at right angles to the major portion thereof and slotted as indicated at g for the passage of the bolts K.

L is an L-shaped member secured to the portion G by the bolts K,it being provided at its projecting end with two or more teeth L adapted to mesh with the pinion F on the vertical shaft D for rotating the latter. The object in slotting-the frame G is to provide for a slight lateral adjustment of the member L.

M, M are the terminals of an electric switch, the projecting arms of which are also slotted as indicated at m forthe purpose of adjustment.

0 is an insulated disk mounted on the vertical shaft, and O is a contact piece adapted to close the circuitbetween the terminals M and M when the shaft is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 7, the circuit being broken upon the rotation of the shaft.

While only one set of terminals are shown it is apparent that two or more may be e1nployed as required.

N is an arm bolted to the vertical shaft D and to its projecting end is secured the end of the cable N which in turn passes around the pulley N ;the lower end of the cable being provided with a weight N N and N are stops to limit the rotation of the shaft,the object of the counterpoise weight N and the stops just referred to is to insure the shaft being rotatedto the limit ofits movement in either direction as controlled by. said stops when actuated by the rack on one of the doors meshing with a pinion F. In place of the counter-poise weight a spring may be employed and as the arm or lever N is actuated in either direction the spring or weight will serve to hold it in contact with the stops N and'N as the case may be.

In installing the system, the vertical shaft D should be properly alined and supported, and to this end it is preferably made up of a series of shafts coupled together as previously indicated. To simplify the installa tion I have provided 'C-shaped hangers E, which are first secured to the ends of the tubes D and the several tubes connected together by means of the hangers. A number of these hangers may be employed throughout the length of the tube, or other supports may be located at convenient points in the elevator well as required. The several lengths of the vertical shaft are coupled together by the pinions F,the latter being supported between the arms of the hangers. Each length of the shaft being suspended from its upper end it is less liable to buckle and the shaft employed may be of relatively small diameter. To assist in more readily installing the shaft D and provide for any slight vertical adjustment necessary, the hub of the pinions F are slotted to receive the pins f coupling them with the next shaft length.

Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, I will now explain the operation of my invention.

To start the elevator it is necessary to properly set the controlling mechanism (which may be either mechanical or electrical) and to this end the vertical shaft D is provided with pinions at each of the floors adapted to be actuated by the door controlling mechanism, the operation of which will be hereafter referred to. To set the elevator controlling mechanism in position for starting, the door must first be GL SBd thereby causing the teeth L of the door controlling mechanism to mesh with the pinion F rotating the latter and thereby the shaft, thereby setting the electrical switch or other controlling mechanism in position for starting the car. To insure the shaft D being sufficiently rotated and the controlling mechanism thereby properly set, the weight or spring actuated lever N is employed, the degree of its movement being limited by the stops 1 4 and N It will be understood that in closing the door the teeth L are caused to mesh with the pinion F wherebyrotating the shaft,when the door is fully closed they will be again out of mesh with the pinion. The controlling mechanism being now in proper position, the car may be started by any suitable operating means (not shown). hen the car is caused to stop at a floor, the bar H is lifted by manually operating the knob I thereby raising the hooked portion H above the horizontal plane of the rack J. The door controlling mechanism may now be thrust to the limit of its movement as controlled by the slots 9 in the frame G, a further movement fully opening thedoor.

It is not essential that the frame G on which the door controlling mechanism is mounted, should be slotted as indicated at g.

I have found it desirable in some cases to arrange for operating the vertical shaft to set the controlling mechanism before the door is actually opened. It is apparent, however, that the vertical shaft may be operated through the act of merely opening the door.

It will be observed that when any elevator door is in an open position, the other doors leading into the shaft will be secure against opening either from the outside owing to the hooked end H of the door controlling mechanism being on a horizontal plane with the rack J ;or from the inside of the shaft owing to the rack L being out of mesh with the pinions F and, moreover, because the arm N contacting with the proper stop prevents a further movement in that direction.

To provide for locking the door, though through carelessness it is not fully closed, the hooked member H is designed to drop behind one of the ratchet teeth J thus secur ing the door against being opened from the outside.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, a vertical rotatable shaft of suitable altitude, means actuated by said shaft adapted to control the operation of the car as predetermined, means carried by each of the doors to severally rotate said shaft and to be out of operative relation therewith when the door is closed and again when the door is opened.

2. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, means for controlling the operation of the car as predetermined, a vertical shaft of suitable altitude to set the means controlling the operation of the car, means carried by each of the'doors each severally designed to partially rotate said shaft and adapted to be out of operative relation therewith when the door is closed and again when the door is opened.

3. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, means for controlling the operation of the car as predetermined, a vertical rotatable shaft of suitable altitude to set said means controlling the operation of the car, means carried by each of the doors each severally designed to partially rotate said shaft and to be out of operative relation therewith when the door is closed and again when the door is opened, and means for locking the door when closed against being opened from the outside.

4. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, means for controlling the operation of the car, .a vertical rotatable shaft to regulate said means controlling the operation of the car, pinions mounted on said shaft, a toothed bar carried by each of the several doors adapted to partially rotate said shaft by meshing with one of said pinions, and to be out of operative relation therewith when the door is closed and again when the door is opened.

5. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, means for governing the operation of the car, a vertical rotatable shaft of suitable altitude to regulate said means controlling the operation of the car, pinions mounted on said shaft, means consisting of a movable frame carried by each of the doors and provided with teeth adapted to engage one of said pinions, and means for locking said frame when the door is closed whereby the door may not be opened until said locking mechanism is released, substantially as described.

6. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, means for governing the operation of the car, a vertical shaft of suitable altitude to control said means, pinions mounted on said shaft, means carried by each of the doors consisting of a sliding frame provided with teeth to rotate its respective pinion, ratchet teeth supported above each of the doorways leading into the shaft, a hooked member carried by said sliding frame adapted to encounter said ratchet teeth whereby the door may be locked when closed, and means for freeing said member from its locked relation with said teeth, substantially as described. k

7 In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, means for governing the operation of the car as predetermined, a vertical shaft to control said means, a plurality of pinions mounted on said shaft, means carried by each of the doors adapted to engage their respective pinions to rotate said shaft, a toothed member located above each of the door openings, a movable member carried by each of the doors adapted to encounter said toothed member to secure the door when closed, and means for raising said movable member to free it from abutting relation with the toothed member whereby the door may be opened.

8. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, a vertical rotatable shaft of suitable altitude, means mounted on said shaft for governing the operation of the car, a plurality of pinions mounted on the shaft, means carried by each of the doors and severally designed to partially rotate said shaft in either direction and to be out of operative relation therewith when the door is closed and again when the door is opened, and means to insure the rotation of said shaft in either direction as predetermined.

9. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, a vertical rotatable shaft of suitable altitude, means mounted on said shaft for governing the operation of the car, a plurality of pinions mounted on the shaft, means carried by each of the doors and severally designed to partially rotate said shaft in either direction and to be out of operative relation therewith when the door is closed and again when the door is opened, a swinging arm secured to said shaft, means to limit the rotation of said shaft in either direction by contacting with the swinging arm, and means for bringing said arm in abutting contact therewith as the shaft is rotated in alternate directions.

10. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, a vertical rotatable shaft of suitable altitude, an electric switch, means carried by said vertical shaft to close and open the circuit through said switch as required, a plurality of pinions mounted on said shaft, a toothed member carried by each of the doors designed to engage its respective pinion and to be out of operative relation therewith when the door is closed and again when the door is opened.

11. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, a vertical shaft consisting of a series of sections, means for coupling said sections together, a plurality of hangers, ball bearings between the coupling and hangers whereby said sections may each be suspended from its respective hanger, suitable bearings mounted in said hangers to receive the shaft, and means carried by each of the doors and severally designed to rotate said shaft in either direction.

12. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, a vertical shaft consisting of a series of sections, means carried by each of the doors and severally designed to rotate said shaft in either direction, a plurality of pinions secured to said shaft and adapted to couple said'sections together, the hub of each pinion being provided with a slot adapted to receive a projecting pin set in the shaft, and the pin carried by the shaft, substantially as described.

13. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, a vertical shaft consisting of a series of sections, means carried by each of the doors and severally designed to rotate said shaft in either direction, a sectional tube for inclosing said shaft, hangers having two projecting arms adapted to respectively receive and support the ends of abutting tube sections, and pinions supported within the arms of the hangers adapted to couple together the ends of abutting shaft sections.

14E. In an elevator, a plurality of elevator doors, a vertical shaft consisting of a series of sections, means carried by each of the doors and severally designed to rotate said shaft in either direction, a sectional tube for inclosing said shaft, hangers having two projecting arms adapted to respectively receive and support the ends of abutting tube sections, pinions supported within the arms of the hangers adapted to couple together the ends of abutting shaft sections, and suitable bearings mounted in the arms of said hangers to receive and support the shaft.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. MOGRORY.

Witnesses GRACE E. IVYNKooP, SAMUEL E. THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

